Mobs on burning spree after 3 youth die in Anantnag firing

Flare up spreads to South Kashmir as 2 Police posts, 7 SRTC trucks, 2 ambulances, set on fire in Anantnag; Curfew violated in Anantnag, Baramulla, Sopore


Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

SRINAGAR, Jun 29: With three more youngsters dying in CRPF firing today and death toll of the youth killed in current spate of violence since June 11th reaching to eleven, flare up has spread from the disturbed North Kashmir to the PDP stronghold of Anantnag in South Kashmir. Even as both, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah as well as union Home Minister P Chidambaram, today made separate appeals to the people of Kashmir to prevent their children from joining riotous mobs, youngsters in large numbers went on a burning spree of public properties, business establishments and residential houses. With the fresh eruption of violence and violation of prohibitory orders in Sopore, Baramulla, Srinagar and Anantnag, authorities are extending curfew to most of the major townships in Valley.

On yet another day of the separatist Hurriyat Conference-sponsored shutdown in Kashmir valley today, turbulence spread to the South Kashmir district headquarters of Anantnag where hundreds of youngsters took to the streets while shouting Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s fresh slogan of ‘Go India Go Back’ and, for the first time in current spate of violence, carrying Pakistani flags. Mobs of the youngsters clashed with Police and CRPF. Exchange of stones and brickbats engulfed almost entire district headquarters even as Police and CRPF fired teargas followed by gunshots at three places.

One youth with gunshot wounds was admitted to hospital.

Informed sources said that at least 30 rioters and Police and CRPF personnel sustained injuries in the forenoon clashes. Late in the afternoon, amid intermittent clashes, hundreds of people engaged Police and CRPF in a violent clash at Sher-e-Kashmir Colony and Anchdora village in the down outskirts. It was during this violent clash that CRPF and Police opened fire after failing to break up the crowds. Sources said that 20 more people, including at least 10 Police and CRPF personnel got injured in this clash. Over a dozen youth, having sustained gunshot and teargas shell injuries, were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Later, three of the critically wounded youth succumbed to injuries at District Hospital of Anantnag. They were identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed Itoo S/o Abdul Ahad Itoo R/o Wanihama Wadigam, Sajjad-ul-Islam Baba S/o Mohamamd Ashraf Baba R/o Anchdora and Ishtiaq Ahmed Khanday S/o Ahmedullah Khanday R/o Sher-e-Kashmir Colony. Officials said that Itoo and Baba were class 12th students while as Khanday, as per preliminary reports, worked at a local bakery.

In the evening, sources said, thousands of residents, including large number of youngsters, surfaced on streets in violation of undeclared curfew after they learned about death of three youth in today’s afternoon firing. Having damaged dozens of vehicles and government offices, including DC’s office, in heavy stone pelting in the afternoon, these violent mobs went on a burning spree. They attacked Police and CRPF positions. In two separate attacks, violent mobs torched Police posts of Janglat Mandi and General Bus Stand.

Preliminary reports said that a place of worship of the minority Hindu community was also set on fire. However, it became clear late tonight that Shivala Mandir in close vicinity of Police post at Janglat Mandi was intact. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah himself told Early Times over telephone that the temple was very much safe and intact and the rioters’ attack was restricted to the Police post. Minister of Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, also confirmed to this newspaper from Anantnag that Shivala Mandir was intact.

Sources in Anantnag said that the violent rioters shouting pro-Pakistan, pro-Azadi, pro-Islam and anti-India slogans completely dominated the PDP stronghold of Anantnag town and they set on fire two ambulances of Primary Health Centre Mattan, seven buses and trucks of J&K State Road Transport Corporation, parked at SRTC Yard near Geneal Bus Stand. Residential house of a local lawyer, namely Muzaffar Ahmed, also caught fire. Mobs also set ablaze Shabnam Store building of a National Conference activist on Khannabal Pahalgam Road besides Mona Lisa photo studios, which belonged to a resident lately found involved by Police in making and circulating obscene pictures and also operating a sex racket.

Sources said that at least two more adjoining houses caught fire near Shabnam Store. With the mobs on rampage, fire brigade failed to reach the spot till reports last came in. Reports said that at around midnight, Police and heavy reinforcement of paramilitary forces brought the situation under control. According to these reports, over a dozen persons allegedly involved in riots were also picked up and detained by Police. Earlier reports said that the law and order machinery failed completely and the senior officials were just using the force to protect their own offices and residences.

Here in the capital city of Srinagar, situation was by and large under control. Scores of youngsters playing football at various public parks in uptown localities was a glaring indication of the situation being “not intractable’. Shops were seen open at several places and private vehicles were also seen operating without any tension. However, youngsters violated restrictions at several places in downtown and also at Sicop crossing Chhannapora in uptown and engaged forces and Police in bitter clashes.

SSP Srinagar, Syed Ashiq Hussain Bukhari, told Early Times that groups of rioters clashed with Police and CRPF at 20 spots. He said that the forces succeeded in getting the situation under control with minimum use of force. He said that a mob of 2,000 people of Lawaypora and adjoing villages on Srinagar-Baramulla highway stormed CRPF-guarded All India Radio transmitters at Narbal. CRPF and Police fired and succeeded in repulsing the attack. He admitted that Srinagar-Baramulla, Srinagar-Kupwara and Srinagar-Gulmarg roads were occupied by rioters and there was no question of the movement of any kind of traffic, including Army and CRPF.

Reports from the usually peaceful Budgam district said that hundreds of people gathered and staged an anti-government and pro-Azadi demonstration at the district headquarters this evening. Reports said that Srinagar-Budgam road was also declared as unsafe for vehicular movement by the authorities. With the shutdown continuing on 4th consecutive day, train service has already been demobilized.

Informed sources in North Kashmir said that thousands of residents in the twin towns of Sopore and Baramulla violated curfew and continued anti-government, anti-India and pro-Azadi and pro-Islam demonstrations. Intermittent clashes between rioters and Police/ CRPF were reported from 15 places.

Officials said that the senior authorities were likely to requisition Army for a flag march in both Baramulla and Sopore. They said that in all, more than 100 civilians and Police/ CRPF personnel sustained in today’s clashes in Srinagar, Anantnag, Sopore and Baramulla. With the death of three more youth in a shootout at Anantnag today, death toll since June 11th has reached eleven in the current spate of violence and demonstrations.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as well as Home Minister P Chidambaram made separate appeals to people of Kashmir to restrict their children from joining demonstrations. In a statement, Chidambaram said that CRPF was not involved in any violation of SOP even as 53 of its personnel had sustained injuries in attacks and clashes in the last few days.

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